The recent accession of King Edward VIII to the English throne may recall to the minds of some older residents of Elmhurst the time when his grandfather, Edward VII, visited in this community.
Back in the 1870's, Elmhurst was the center of a gay and brilliant social life that brought many notable figures of the day to this quiet, semi-rural community. A number of prominent families had come out from Chicago and settled on large estates here building lovely homes and entertaining on a lavish scale. Among these early settlers was T. H. Bryan and his family who had a large estate which many older residents will remember on St. Charles road, bordering York street. The L. A. Hagans came here about the same time, their estate being on St. Charles road at Prospect street.
Notables Visited Here
Both Mr. Bryan and Mr. Hagans were in the United States diplomatic service, and were aquainted with many of the international figures of that day. Through their hospitality, many famous persons visited Elmhurst.
It was in those halcyon days of the town's social life that King Edward VII, then Prince of Wales, |
was making a tour of America. The Bryans and Hagans had met him in their travels and so, when he came to Chicago, the Hagans invited him to sojourn in their Elmhurst home. He accepted, and the people of this community as well as many Chicago notables, met the prince here. It was a notable occasion, even as such an event would be today and Elmhurst basked in the limelight of reflected glory during his stay.
Pointed Out Spot
Madame Hagans, whom many still remember, used to tell about the visit with the greatest pride, and in later years she would point out the exact spot where the prince stood when she tendered the reception for him in her home.
Edward VII was the son of Queen Victoria, and he ascended the British throne in 1901, following her death. His reign lasted but nine years, until 1910, when he was succeeded by his son, George V, whose death was only recently mourned.
Glamouous social history was being written in Elmhurst during the Victorian era, and it was perhaps only fitting that a visit of Queen Victoria's son should have been one of the high points in that romantic and colorful community life.
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